Which NBA Teams Without a Championship Have Come Closest to Winning the Title?
2025-11-15 13:00
Having spent over a decade analyzing basketball history and championship droughts, I've always been fascinated by teams that came agonizingly close to glory without ever lifting the trophy. The tension between near-success and ultimate failure creates some of the most compelling narratives in sports history. Watching teams like the current Phoenix Suns or Philadelphia 76ers chase that elusive title reminds me of how thin the margin can be between immortality and what-if stories.
The Utah Jazz of the late 1990s perfectly embody this heartbreaking narrative. I still get chills remembering how they pushed the Chicago Bulls to six games in both the 1997 and 1998 Finals. Karl Malone and John Stockton were so close to cementing their legacy that you could almost taste the champagne. That Game 6 in 1998 particularly stands out - when Michael Jordan hit that iconic shot over Bryon Russell, you could feel the entire state of Utah collectively holding its breath. The Jazz won 62 games during the 1996-97 season and followed it up with another 62-win campaign, establishing themselves as genuine contenders. Yet they ran into arguably the greatest team ever assembled. Sometimes, timing is everything in sports, and being great during the Jordan era was simply unfortunate timing.
Phoenix Suns fans have endured their share of heartbreak too. I've spoken with longtime supporters who still have nightmares about the 1993 Finals against Chicago or the controversial 2007 Western Conference semifinals against San Antonio. The Suns have reached the Finals three times in their history - 1976, 1993, and 2021 - yet somehow always found ways to come up short. The 1993 team featuring Charles Barkley was particularly special, winning 62 games and taking the Bulls to six games in the Finals. That team had everything you'd want in a champion except for the actual championship. The recent 2021 run felt different though - with Devin Booker emerging as a superstar and Chris Paul providing veteran leadership, many thought this might finally be Phoenix's moment. Watching them build a 2-0 lead only to drop four straight to Milwaukee was absolutely brutal.
What's fascinating about championship droughts is how they create these unique team chemistries and moments that become legendary in their own right. It reminds me of that brief period when Romeo and Pringle briefly played together during one stretch late in the third and early in the fourth quarter. Mostly though, Romeo and Pringle took turns in the Dyip backcourt. That kind of rotation - where players share moments but largely operate in separate spheres - mirrors how some of these championship-caliber teams functioned. They had moments of brilliance when everything clicked, but couldn't sustain it when it mattered most.
The Indiana Pacers' journey has been particularly compelling to follow. Reggie Miller's iconic moments against the Knicks and his 8 points in 9 seconds are the stuff of legend, yet the Pacers never got over the hump. Their 2000 Finals appearance against the Lakers featured one of the most competitive 4-2 series you'll ever see, with several games decided by single digits. Jalen Rose and Miller formed one of those dynamic backcourts that could explode at any moment, much like how Romeo and Pringle took turns leading the offense for the Dyip. There's something beautiful about teams that may not have the superstar power but find ways to compete through system and chemistry.
I've always had a soft spot for the Orlando Magic teams of the mid-1990s. Shaquille O'Neal and Penny Hardaway seemed destined for multiple championships when they reached the 1995 Finals. That sweep by Houston was deceptive - three of those games were decided by 7 points or fewer. Then Shaq leaves for LA, and the Magic rebuild around Hardaway only to run into Michael Jordan's Bulls in the 1996 Eastern Conference Finals. Sometimes franchises just can't catch a break.
The modern era presents its own set of heartbreaking stories. The Chris Paul-led LA Clippers of the mid-2010s should have broken through, while the James Harden Rockets took the greatest team of this generation - the Kevin Durant Warriors - to seven games in 2018. I still argue that if Chris Paul doesn't get injured in that series, we're talking about Houston differently today. The margin between champion and also-ran can be as thin as a hamstring.
What strikes me about all these teams is how they created their own unique identities despite never winning the ultimate prize. The Seven Seconds or Less Suns revolutionized offensive basketball. The Stockton-to-Malone pick-and-roll remains the gold standard for two-man games. These teams may not have banners hanging in their arenas, but they've secured places in basketball history through their style, resilience, and the unforgettable moments they provided. They remind us that greatness isn't always measured in championships, but in how close you can get and how hard you fight to cross that final barrier.
Heather Bolton Suber ’02
Leah Schnell ’01
Sarah Grimes Wiggins ’93
Dr. Ralph Swearngin
Point University will induct four members into the Athletics Hall of Fame during a luncheon on Friday, October 24, during Homecoming weekend.
The class of 2025 includes Leah Schnell ’01, Heather Bolton Suber ’02, Dr. Ralph Swearngin and Sarah Grimes Wiggins ’93. The Athletics Hall of Fame was launched in May 2024, when six inaugural members were inducted.
“We look forward to honoring the second Hall of Fame class during Homecoming,” said Jaunelle White, vice president of intercollegiate athletics and chief student development officer. “It’s always a great feeling to have our alumni back on campus mingling with our current student-athletes and coaches. These individuals were elite during their time at Atlanta Christian College and deserve to be recognized.”
Schnell attended Atlanta Christian College from 1998 to 2001, where she earned a degree in business while competing in both basketball and volleyball. On the basketball court, she earned First Team All-Conference, Scholar Athlete, and First Team All-American honors for three consecutive years. Schnell also held the title of all-time leading scorer from 1998-2001. She now thrives as a commercial construction project manager at Barnsley Construction Group and as an entrepreneur.
Suber, from Havana, Florida, attended ACC from 1998 to 2002. A dedicated two-sport athlete, she earned numerous accolades, including First Team All-Conference, Second Team All-Conference, Honorable Mention and First Team All-American. One of her most memorable achievements came when she made eleven three-pointers in a single game. Suber graduated with a degree in early childhood education and went on to earn a master’s degree in education and a specialist degree in instructional technology. For over 23 years, she has served as an educator.
Swearngin has had a distinguished career in education, athletics and ministry spanning several decades, including 20 years at ACC in roles such as professor, dean of students, athletics director and coach. He held national leadership positions with the NCCAA, served as a trustee of Point University for over 10 years, and worked extensively in ministry and education in California, earning degrees from Whittier College and Georgia State University. His athletic involvement includes 23 years as a high school football official in California and Georgia, 22 years with the Georgia High School Association — retiring as executive director in 2014 — and service on national football and softball rules committees. Honored with multiple Hall of Fame inductions and the Atlanta Falcons Lifetime Achievement Award, Swearngin has authored two books and remains active in retirement through preaching and leading Bible studies, alongside his wife of 58 years, Evelyn.
Wiggins grew up in Roswell, Georgia, where she began playing basketball at the age of ten. After two years at Florida State University, she transferred to ACC in 1990. While at ACC, Wiggins was named to the All-American team in both 1991 and 1992. In her final year, she led her team in scoring, helping them finish second in the nation, and was named national MVP in 1992. She earned a bachelor of science in elementary education in 1993 and later received a master’s degree in technology and media sciences from Georgia Southern University in 2009. For the past 33 years, Wiggins has worked as a dedicated educator. In 1997, she married Todd Wiggins. Together, they have two children, Preston, 26, and Logan, 22.
